Oct. 31, 2014

Behind the Monster Music: Why Some Tunes Scare Us

The scariest parts of a horror film aren’t always the slashers or blood-sucking vampires—the shrieking violins and rumbling basslines of the music can be enough to get our pulses racing. Why do our brains perceive a certain combination of notes as spooky? Neuroscientist Daniel Levitin and Jim DeRogatis, music critic and co-host of Sound Opinions, spin their spookiest song selections and discuss the neuroscience behind these terrifying tunes.

We asked DeRogatis and our social media followers to name songs that give them the creeps. Here's what they shared: